Paul Kagame discusses agrifood job creation with Ghanaian entrepreneur

During the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Rwanda, Ghanaian entrepreneur Fareeda Mustapha, CEO of PureLube, challenged African governments to transform agricultural and food systems into primary engines for youth employment. Mustapha highlighted the personal and systemic challenges young innovators face when attempting to create meaningful opportunities in a market where millions of youth enter annually.

Responding to the inquiry, Rwandan President Paul Kagame emphasized the need for policies that provide greater support to young people, specifically through improved access to agricultural finance. Kagame suggested that governments must implement mechanisms to de-risk investments and proposed that states should be prepared to absorb some loan losses to encourage participation in the sector.